Early Origins of the Dodsworde family

The surname Dodsworde was first found in the historic West Riding of Yorkshire at Dodworth, a township, in the parish of Silkstone, wapentake of Staincross. [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print. Today Dodworth is South Yorkshire and is a village in the metropolitan borough of Barnsley. The Domesday Book of 1086 lists the place name as Dodesuu(o)rde and literally meant "enclosure of a man called Dod(d) or Dod(d)a," from the Old English personal name + "worth." [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4) The first record of the family was Lefode de Dodesuurda who was listed in the Inquisitio Eliensis (included in the Domesday Book as lands of Ely Abbey) in 1086. Years later, Adam de Dodworth was listed in the Feet of Fines of Yorkshire in 1375. [3]CITATION[CLOSE]Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X) The YorkshirePoll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Walterus de Dodworth; and Willelmus de Dodword. [4]CITATION[CLOSE]Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)

Early History of the Dodsworde family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dodsworde research.Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1585, 1654, 1544 and 1631 are included under the topic Early Dodsworde History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dodsworde Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Dodsworde include Dodsworth, Dodworth and others.

Early Notables of the Dodsworde family (pre 1700)

Another 25 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dodsworde Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dodsworde family to the New World and Oceana

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: James Dodsworth who settled in Barbados in 1671; another James Dodsworth settled in Maryland in 1775; M. Dodsworth arrived in San Francisco in 1852.

The Dodsworde Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.